El Centro, California; December 24th, 2025
Border Patrol agents working in California’s Imperial Valley recorded a coordinated enforcement outcome this week, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the arrest of 49 individuals found to be unlawfully present in the United States and in possession of commercial driver’s licenses.
According to the official CBP release, agents assigned to the El Centro Sector encountered the individuals during enforcement activity conducted within the sector’s area of responsibility. The agency stated that all 49 individuals were determined to be in the country unlawfully at the time of arrest and were found to possess commercial driver’s licenses during processing.
CBP noted that the discovery raised concerns tied to identity verification and credential use, as commercial driver’s licenses grant access to regulated transportation activities and are subject to specific eligibility and verification requirements. The release did not specify issuing jurisdictions or how the licenses were obtained, focusing instead on the enforcement action itself and the status determination made by agents.
The El Centro Sector spans a largely agricultural and desert region along the U.S.–Mexico border, where enforcement operations routinely involve vehicle stops, checkpoint activity, and roving patrols. CBP stated that agents rely on layered enforcement strategies to identify violations of immigration law while maintaining safety along transportation corridors.
Following their arrest, the individuals were taken into Border Patrol custody for processing under applicable federal law. CBP indicated that the cases will proceed through established immigration procedures, with outcomes determined by the appropriate legal authorities.
The agency emphasized that border enforcement operations include both humanitarian and security responsibilities, and that identifying individuals who are unlawfully present remains a core mission of the Border Patrol. The announcement did not characterize intent or assign motive beyond the facts of the arrests.
Issued directly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the release documents the enforcement action as part of ongoing operations within the El Centro Sector. It records a specific incident rather than a broader trend, noting that immigration enforcement outcomes can vary based on operational conditions and location.
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Sources
Primary First-Hand Sources
- U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, official release detailing the arrest of 49 individuals with commercial driver’s licenses by El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents, December 2025
I’ve got more to say if you want this paired with other CBP sector updates for December 24th, or if you want to pivot fully into Christmas Day history and Faith & Life coverage, or I can put a bow on it right here.
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